What People are saying about our 2012 & 2011 Empathic Therapy Conferences

"Having just returned from the 2012 Empathic Therapy Conference I wanted to express my appreciation for all the presenters. In over 25 years of practice I can truly say this was the most beneficial and inspiring medical meeting I have attended. My caseload includes the mentally distressed and I know this conference would be invaluable to any discipline involved in healthcare. Thank you so much to Dr. Breggin and Ginger," John Artman OTR/L CHT

"The Empathic Therapy Conference surpassed my expectations. You expect a professional conference to be informative but this was much more. I left with new ideas but more importantly I was inspired and reinvigorated in my work. The healing power of empathy was enlaborated on and explored from every angle. This was a rich sharing of ideas and affect, humane clinical practices, and a thoroughgoing critique of the status quo in mental health. Dr. Peter Breggin in producing this conference has shown himself not only a passionate and informed critic of psychiatric drug therapies but has given voice and thereby empowered those who have been abused by those very therapies. Beyond the critique the conference offered many constructive and viable alternatives that are cost effective and affirming of the humanity of patients." Gerald Porter, PhD, Dean of the School of Natural Arts and Sciences at Bastyr University.

"I just returned from Dr. Peter Breggin's Empathic Therapy conference in Syracuse, New York. It was a great conference, and wonderful to be surrounded by hundreds of people--psychiatrists, neurologists, family doctors, psychologists, social workers, recovered consumers, family advocates--from all over the country who see the falseness and harm of the biopsychiatric model. For once, I felt like I wasn't stranded on an island by myself." Mark Foster, D.O. from his blog on "Mad in America."

"I am eagerly anticipating attending the next Empathic Therapy Conference in April 2012, after such a wonderful and uplifting experience at the conference this April 2011 in Syracuse, NY. This year’s conference was a coming together of caring individuals with much to offer in terms of talents, understandings, perceptions, real life affirming choices, and vital information, all without the usual recommendation of toxic drugs. I am grateful to Peter and Ginger Breggin for bringing this event and future conferences about. Dorothy Cassidy, Academic Coach and Special Education Teacher

"Wow! What a nice experience at the Empathy Therapy Conference. Much, much more than I expected (with years of conferences). Ginger, the planning, execution, and oversight was flawless! I've never experienced anything like this working so smoothly. More specifically, the choice of presenters was great -- each one well prepared and having something unusual and stimulating to say. And there was a ryhthm about the whole thing,-- a lack of sameness, some more emotional, some more intellectual. The panel of "victims" of antidepressant malice had me, along with this huge professional hockey player beside me, in tears. Thanks! This conference brought the whole thing together about antidepressants in a more profound way. I liked the interaction with presenters and participants alike. Bottom line: I wasn't bored once -- and that's, I think, a first! It was so good to be with people -- really smart people, that I felt so much respect for, who approach troubled people (aren't we all, at times) and their issues with a similar philosophy and understanding. The most important benefit most likely in the long run: I don't feel so all alone!" John Snyder, EdD, psychotherapist and author of Flying Lessons.

Warning! Most psychiatric drugs can cause withdrawal reactions, sometimes including life-threatening emotional and physical withdrawal problems. In short, it is not only dangerous to start taking psychiatric drugs, it can also be dangerous to stop them. Withdrawal from psychiatric drugs should be done carefully under experienced clinical supervision. Methods for safely withdrawing from psychiatric drugs are discussed in Dr. Breggin's new book,Psychiatric Drug Withdrawal: A Guide for Prescribers, Therapists, Patients, and Their Families.

Copyright 2010-2015 Peter R. Breggin, MD

Dr. Peter Breggin and Dr. Bertram Karon are proud to present the

2015 Empathic Therapy Conference

April 17-19, 2015​

Michigan State University Campus

Kellogg Hotel and Conference Center

219 South Harrison Road

East Lansing, MI 48824

Phone: 517-432-3086

www.KelloggCenter.com

East Lansing, Michigan

2015 Empathic Therapy Conference Program

FRIDAY April 17, 2015

8:00-9:00

Registration. Coffee, juice and snacks.

9:00-9:30

Welcome by Bertram Karon and Peter and Ginger Breggin.

9:30-10:30

Peter Breggin: Psychiatric Drugs vs. Therapy and Life: An Overview.

10:30-11:00

Coffee break.

11-12:30

Robert Whitaker: Research on Successful Psychosocial Approaches to Seriously Disturbed Patients. The award-winning science and medical journalist describes what distressed human beings really need. Bert Karon will join him with comments and questions.

12:30-2:00

Lunch is served. Included in the conference registration.

2:00-3:30

Michael Corrigan: Debunking ADHD. A brilliantly entertaining and insightful visual presentation that makes a shambles of ADHD and drugging children.

Gina Calhoun: WRAP and the Copeland Center for Wellness and Recovery. Among the most widely successful international programs, based on peer-support and self-help through each individual’s own Wellness Recovery Action Plan.

Friday Evening

6:00-7:30

Friday night dinner on your own. Come back for dessert and a very special evening that will inform and inspire.

7:30-8:00

Dessert at the conference. Dessert and presentation included in the conference registration.

8.00-9:30

An evening with Carina Hakansson from Sweden: The Family Care Foundation Placement of Disturbed Clients in Farming Community Homes. Many clients live with farm families where this "ordinary life" creates "new possibilities." Brief introduction and commentary by Bertram Karon and Peter Breggin. This is a unique opportunity to learn about an internationally-acclaimed innovative program.

SATURDAY April 18, 2015

8:00-9:00

Registration. Coffee, juice and snacks

.

9:00-10:00

Rebecca Hatton: Open Dialogue: The Family-Oriented Finnish Model for Treating 'Schizophrenia' Comes to America. This is the program that has nearly eliminated 'schizophrenia' in Lapland, Finland through early family interventions. One of the most important innovations for deeply distressed people.

10:00-10:30

Coffee and juice break.

10:30-11:30

Peter C. Gøtzsche: Treating Depression: Evidence Tells Us How Antidepressants Do More Harm than Good. From Denmark, a leading international medical researcher shines the light of science on the darkness of current drug research.

11:30-12:30

Jeanne Stolzer and Peter Breggin: The Neuroscience of Positive and Negative Emotions. An adventure into the origins of guilt, shame and anxiety in biological evolution and human relationship, and how to overcome these “negative legacy emotions” in your own life, as well as in helping others.

12:30-2:00

Lunch is served as part of conference registration.

2:00-3.00

Tom Ryan: My Psychiatric Drug-Free Pediatric Practice. Based on what he knew as ethically and ​scientifically right, this heroic pediatrician stopped prescribing psychiatric medications and weaned his patients off the drugs. In their place, he offers families helpful guidance in child-rearing. He is a model for all physicians and prescribers.

3:00-4:00

Tim Evans and Geri Carter: Sex and Love from an Adlerian Viewpoint. Two experienced, creative therapists, married to each other, apply Adler’s social theories to practical aspects of love. Inspiring!

4-4:30

Coffee and juice break.

​4:30-6:00

Bert Karon. Drugs, Therapy and Life. Joined by Peter Breggin. With one hundred-plus years of experience between them, they dialogue with each other and you about what they have learned and unlearned over their professional lifetimes.

Saturday Evening

6:00-7:30

Saturday night dinner on your own. Be sure to return to the conference center to have dessert and hear Peter Breggin and Bob Whitaker.

7:30-8:00

Dessert at the conference. Dessert and presentation included in the conference registration.

8:00-9:30

A Conversation with Bob Whitaker, Peter Gøtzsche and Peter Breggin about Psychiatric Drugs and Better Alternatives. Introduction by Bert Karon. In this first of its kind presentation, two pioneers in the field dialog with each other and with you about cutting-edge issues.

SUNDAY April 19, 2015

8:00 - 9:00

Registration, coffee, juice and snacks.

9:00 - 10:30

Bert Karon: On Psychoanalytic Therapy. The psychologist who pioneered research and practice in the psychotherapy of schizophrenia discusses how to do psychotherapy across the spectrum of human problems. Bert will freely dialogue with the audience about therapy and life.

10:30 - 11:00

Coffee break.

11:00 - 12:00

Bob Foltz: Treating Children and Adolescents. A courageous psychologist, far ahead of others in his profession, describes the latest in drug-free approaches.

12:00 - 12:30

Closing. Bert Karon, Peter Breggin, and the roster of speakers celebrate the conference. Bert, Peter and other speakers will visit with the people in the audience after the closing.

More than 16 possible Continuing Education Credits!

"One of the best CE values available"

Offering up to 16 hours of Professional Continuing Education Credits:

CEUs are being offered for Psychologists, Social Workers, Counselors, Marriage and Family Therapists, Chemical Dependency Counselors, and Nurses.